I really appreciate this article. Years ago, a friend and I were camping on the shores of Lake George in Upstate New York. Both two white guys. Two local sheriff’s deputies pulled up in a power boat and we were just chatting in a friendly way. One of the deputies asked where we were from. “New York City,” I said. In the most venomous way you could imagine he replied: “How the HELL can you live there?” There was no question in my mind that guy was saying something ugly and coded, and I wanted to tell him to go fuck himself — but he’s wearing the badge. They left. How different would the encounter have been if my friend and I weren’t two white guys? I appreciate and dig your brave and necessary piece. -M